If this is sung, everyone should have their arms on the shoulder of those to their right. Rhythm should be like a drinking song, but not too raucous. Remember this is a song about the joys of comradeship.

There a(at least) two well-known melodies to this. This one seems to be the one in 4/4, that starts on a pickup beat. The other is a round in 3/4, that starts on the downbeat. The "B" part leaves out the words "uma na'im." Unfortunately I don't have the time to create ABC files of the two tunes...or to search to see if they've been posted.

This was used as the theme song to a tremendous movie about a German Jewish boy who "hid" in the SS. I think it was true. Remember him singing it solo as an old man standing by a canal at the close. Very moving.

At first, it is from the first verse of Psalm 133: A psalm by David, a song for pilgrimage [to Jerusalem]. At medieval universities it was conceived as a short drinking song. More abaout this ScribiTrad, Academies, And Drinking: A lecture about Psalm 133,1 held at Ye Olde Black Boy in Kingston Upon Hull on May 1, 2004 ; during the Mudcat Eurogathering.

Chico, Harry Belafonte is American, born in NYC in 1927 (1924 according to the liner notes of his first album "Mark Twain..." released in 1954). His mother was Jamaican, and he spent about six years of his childhood there. Thankfully he still lives, as you said.

I think of Belafonte as the Kingston Trio of Calypso...he introduced millions of folks to that music, and many of us went on to embrace the more 'ethnically pure ;)' performers. He also provided a showcase for such performers as Miriam Makeba and the Chad Mitchell trio.

With all the things Belafonte has done for human rights, and civil rights, he is a credit to his race-THE HUMAN RACE.